One of Anjellicle adoptable cats in Koneko Cat Cafe. Photos by Jimmy Aragon
“Customers come in here to play with the cats, have fun, and enjoy their Japanese food,” Benjamin Kalb said. He is partner of Anjellicle Cats Rescue and owner of Koneko Cat Café where you can find a kitten or cat to adopt. Kalb looked around the café on Clinton Street on the Lower East and said, “We want all these cats to find a loving home.”
Anjellicle Cats Rescue provides shelter, rehabilitation, and love to stray cats. Koneko is one of its rescue locations. It is also a meeting spot for cat and coffee enthusiasts. Koneko means kitten in Japanese and the café serves coffee, pastries, and is known for their Japanese snacks.
Cat roaming inside of the Koneko Cat Café. Photo by Jimmy Aragon
Within the café, there are several levels. The upper level is where the cats can walk freely because there are cat beds, chairs, and shelves for them to relax on. Customers may view the kittens while eating their food through a glass window in the room. The outdoor patio, decorated with colorful graffiti, has grass and chairs that the cats can lie on. The lower level is the largest, with furnishings, shelves, and obstacles for the kittens to play. Customers can play with the kittens throughout the café.
Anjellicle Cats Rescue needs volunteers to help them save more cats from city shelters. They also need foster parents to take care of the kitties until they are adopted. All the cats are certified healthy, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. Information and pictures of the cats may be found on their website, or they can be seen in person at Koneko Cat Café and Petco on the Upper East Side.
The group also raises money to help maintain the cats until they are adopted. “Our cats are in pain. Supporter donations play a huge role in getting these cats spay/neuter surgeries and medicine. With every donation, it helps us be able to save more cats,” said fundraiser Felice Clyne-Davis.
The group is careful about whom it lets adopt a cat or kitten. The owner must attend a cat care session, pay an adoption fee, sign papers, and arrange for the cat’s relocation. Anjellicle Cats Rescue makes house visits to ensure the cat is in a safe environment. If you want to find a cat, why not visit Koneko Cat Café? “The cats are lovable, charming and always love to play.” Kalb said.
The Brooklyn Cat Café also gives visitors a chance to play with cats and kittens and adopt them. Haileny Caravalho takes us inside.
